Social networks can be good and they can be bad. Sometimes they are a little of both. Good can come with bad and that can lead to many mixed results. There are some signs I have seen that should push people to think beyond these networks based on their personal development level and their conception of values (...especially the values they want to teach their children and we as a nation hold sacred. A lot of people fought and died for those rights. Dysfunctional groups should not supplant them just because they think its "cool" to do so.).
For example, local families looking out for each other is important and helpful. That is a great thing! We should applaud their engagement. It can help the community and help people in general.
We can run into a problem when such social networks limit opportunities for others and some of the core members engage in seriously questionable behaviors (..they create the untouchables much like what we would find in an Indian caste system. That "untouchable" status is based not a person's merit but simply whether someone in their social network likes that person or whether they have the right clothes, skin color or religion. Steven King creepy. 😬) based on.....
1.) Intentionally false information (In history we have seen people intentionally misuse false information to exploit the ignorance of others. That has led to all types of destructiveness.) Rumors are about power, control, and management of social networks. While true information can lead to better decision making from a human species standpoint, it can also lead to group manipulation (People don't often figure out they were treated as stooges, flying monkeys, or ignorant until well after the damage. I personally would be upset if my friends lied to me about others to solicit support and create a hazard.).
2. Influence over Institutions (i.e. an HR department manager of a local college connected to a social group using rumors based in bigotry to justify illegal behaviors. Likely why an EEOC audit is necessary. It could also impact courts when/if they rely on false information within their social networks to make poor decisions over sacred rights and oaths. ),
3.) Misuse of police power (i.e. a couple of corrupt officers that may have engaged in other illegal behaviors that people in the community talk about but haven't been investigated. Most officers are awesome but the one's connected to that social group are/may be a long term danger to the public.). That could influence local judges and justices (There could be huge problems right under the surface
Taking a peak might be helpful.).
4.) A bully network based in past sports identity (Most are good people but they are caught in a network that they must strictly adhere to certain rules for fear of being rejected. The same tools they use against others. They love to spread rumors and gossip.)
5.) Use of power and intimidation as tactics (Intentionally seeking to harm others through misuse of information designed to distance themselves and protect potentially illegal and criminal behavior.)
6.) The in group and out group social adherence (People must fall in these networks and strictly fall in line. Much of the social hierarchy is mixed with racial and religious overtones. The quality of people doesn't matter. Its bazaar but because they self-confirm their values and beliefs its hard to break the cycle of ignorance. )
7. Blind "Clanmanship". In most situations where people have found out they were manipulated they would be upset but in some situations you can't change those beliefs. This is where there are social networks, prior bias, self-gain, and general ignorance (These networks become somewhat dangerous because they cannot critically think and will act again if pushed to do so.)
What do you do about such situations? Well its a choice we have as a nation. We can continue to divide society and create us versus them or we can come together as a single people, community, and nation. There will be those who exploit for self gain and there will be those who have a higher calling. Truth and wisdom should overcome the distortion of these networks. That is why my door is always open to those who have a moral conscious and seek to recreate networks (Me and my children come from a line of people that have been there longer than most of the others so "cleansing" us out will be staunchly opposed.). I will positively and politely encourage people to step back from these distorted networks to create higher level of development (personal, social, financial, economic) in their communities.
(The interesting thing is that there have been multiple people who sort of talk of this "in crowd" and their destructive influence on the community. Many of the doctors, professionals and others leave the area because they don't "fit in". Local people use the term "clickish" to describe that group. Those are lost opportunities for the community. Retention of new people, new families, new wealth leak out the door because of this semi functional/dysfunctional network and their distorted influence on local social affairs. When some of them become destructive there is a need for more intervention. If you ask locals privately if these groups were good for the community most would like say no but they don't really go after them but may have gone after others. Most people in the community have shown great support once the misinformation was debunked and they became familiar with the targets as valued community members. To me, mandatory mental health and a review of their financial, racial/religious, and bully like behaviors are helpful in creating lasting community cohesion. ).
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